Kobe Bryant was the center of attention as the Lakers and the Magic faced off for the NBA title, but it was a less glamorous story line—the chess match under the basket—that was determining the course of the Finals

He meets with former presidents, counsels the U.N. and, oh, yeah, makes more than any NFL player, but Raiders cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha can still walk unrecognized through America's biggest city. Not for much longer

Who's Hot Who's Not

HALLADAY One start he strikes out 14, the next he throws a shutout, and now Toronto's Roy Halladay is 10--1 with a 2.52 ERA. "He hasn't had his [best] stuff yet," warns Blue Jays first baseman Lyle Overbay. A second Cy Young Award could be in the offing; maybe skipping March's WBC to stay fresh was a wise idea.

TONY STEWART Owner, racer, winner. By taking it slow—to save gas over the last few laps—he held on to win the Pocono 500, the first NASCAR team owner to drive to a Cup victory since 1998. He did it after starting last in the 43-car field. Said rival Carl Edwards, "I'm extremely impressed."

CAVALIERS BASEBALL Helloooo, Omaha! Beating Ole Miss in the super regional gave Virginia—and slugger Jarrett Parker (right)—its first trip to the College World Series. And this just days after alum Ryan Zimmerman of the Washington Nationals donated $250,000 to the program.

IN-KYUNG KIM A crowded leader board full of big names? No worries. Kim, 20, birdied the 16th and 17th holes to steal a one-stroke win at the State Farm Classic and beat the likes of Se Ri Pak and Paula Creamer. Was she eyeing the board down the stretch? Said Kim, "You can't miss it."

Who's Not

DICE-K Boston's Daisuke Matsuzaka has spent two weeks on the DL, hasn't gotten past the sixth inning all year and is 1--4 with a 7.33 ERA. He's "trying to figure himself out," Sox catcher Jason Varitek told The Providence Journal. Maybe leaving spring training to make three starts for Japan in the WBC wasn't such a smart move.

DENNY HAMLIN Winless this year, the driver said last week that his luck has been "worse than bad." (In one race a late blown tire dropped him from second place to 36th.) And that was before he went to Pocono, had a faulty fuel pump and finished 38th. It's enough to get a driver depressed.

SEMINOLES BASEBALL Giving up five late runs to lose at home to Arkansas in Game 1 stung Florida State. Giving up two runs in the ninth to blow a lead in Game 2 and get eliminated from the super regional? Said coach Mike Martin to The Miami Herald, "That's disappointment."

DAVID DUVAL The old favorite's long-awaited return to the leader board—he led the Memorial through Thursday's front nine—was exceptionally brief. After one of his shots beaned a spectator on the 10th hole, Duval unraveled. He wound up tied for 58th by tournament's end.

SI PLAYERS MLB POLL

WHO IS THE BEST FIELDER IN BASEBALL?

Torii Hunter, Angels CF 16%

Omar Vizquel, Rangers SS 13%

Adrian Beltre, Mariners 3B 7%

Brandon Inge, Tigers 3B 5%

Grady Sizemore, Indians CF 4%

FAST FACTS Players couldn't vote for a teammate.... Hunter has won eight straight Gold Glove awards.... Vizquel, 42, and a Rangers backup now, has won 11 Gold Gloves in his 19-year career, most recently in 2006.... Inge, a converted catcher, has played primarily third base only since '05, his fifth big league season.... The Cardinals' Yadier Molina was the highest finisher among catchers, tying for 10th place with 2.1% of the vote.